Archive for the 'Gregg Zaun' Tag Under 'Angels' Category

The San Diego Padres were interested this week in former Angels catcher Bengie Molina, last seen in the World Series with the Texas Rangers. Gregg Zaun's retirement prompted the inquiry by Bud Black's team.

Contrary to some reports, Molina is not retired at age 36, although he's looking for a guaranteed contract. San Jose's Andrew Baggarly talked to him.

Huston Street, right, went to Colorado last week in the four-player deal for Matt Holliday.

The original assumption was the Rockies would ship the former A's closer elsewhere although now it appears that Street might compete for the closer job with Manny Corpas. The Denver Post reported Street had been told as much by GM Dan O'Dowd. Many teams, among them the Mets, reportedly showed interest in Street.

Street, 25, earned $3.3 million last year and still has two arbitration years left before free agency in 2011. Although he lost his closer job in Oakland last summer to the red-hot Brad Ziegler, the suggestion here is he might be a nice low-cost alternative for the Angels if Francisco Rodriguez does indeed leave.

Street was bothered by hip and groin injuries all year but finished strong, going 5-0 with a 1.37 ERA in his final 17 appearances. His fastball was clocked in the 93 mph range in early September.